Sporting KC finds relief in Montreal

North of the border on Independence Day, Sporting Kansas City finally found some relief.

Goals from Kei Kamara, Graham Zusi and Jacob Peterson in the second half brought Sporting KC (10-5-2) back from a 1-0 deficit against the Montreal Impact at Stade Saputo and returned it to one point shy of first in the Eastern Conference.

After going into halftime in a scoreless tie, Patrice Bernier got the scoring started for Montreal in the 49th minute. The Brazilian Felipe received the ball from Zarek Valentin and dashed past the Sporting KC defense, finding Bernier alone and primed for a score.

It was also Bernier, who six minutes later, helped set up Sporting KC’s equalizer. A handball penalty in the box allowed Kamara to convert a penalty kick, his team-leading sixth goal of the year and the first Sporting KC score in 320 minutes of play.

The draught over, Zusi would add the game-winner off a penalty kick in the 74th minute after former Sporting KC player Davy Arnaud was cited for taking down second-half sub Soony Saad while fighting for position on a corner kick.

Finally, Peterson converted a cross from Roger Espinoza in the 82nd minute to seal the 3-1 victory, avenging the club’s May 5 home loss to the Impact.

Sporting KC returns to Livestrong Sporting Park at 7 p.m. on Saturday to host the Houston Dynamo in a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference Championship.